COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is generally associated with two main lung diseases: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Although both diseases have different pathological causes, both share an obstructive pattern in the lung airways, which most of the time is felt as dyspnea (shortness of breath).
 | Emphysema
Defined as a chronic condition characterized by enlarged and/or damaged air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The cause is mainly exposure to harmful particles (primarily tobacco smoke). During the normal course of the disease these small endings of the airways become progressively inelastic. Therefore a small amount of air stays within them, even when the person exhales.
In severe cases, the size of the alveoli is increased, but due to the disease, the gas exchange, and therefore the lung function, is worsened. As the gas exchange in the lungs takes place through the membrane of the alveoli, the proportion of volume and the size of the membrane is disturbed and less gas can be exchanged. Some patients suffering from this condition are unable even to blow out a match or a candle. |
Chronic Bronchitis
Defined as an inflammation of the bronchi, the main airways of the lungs. According to the WHO definition, bronchitis is considered as a chronic condition if a patient suffers from coughing and sputum production (mucus) on most days within a three month period over two consecutive years.
Certain gases or circumstances (e.g. tobacco smoke, air pollution, industrial gases, extreme heat, dust, untreated infectious diseases of the upper airways and other risk factors) destroy the lungs’ ability to clean themselves. Therefore mucus can no longer be transported to the throat and even the resultant coughing can no longer eject it from the airways.
The main cause of COPD is tobacco smoking.
Contributing factors may also be:
- allergies
- air pollution
- working in a polluted environment (e.g. in a coal mine).
In the latter stages of the disease, COPD may lead to pneumonia and hypoxemia (low level of oxygen in the blood). Today there is no cure for COPD but appropriate therapy can prevent worsening of the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.
Key indicators of COPD:
- (Chronic) cough
- Chronic mucus production
- Acute bronchitis
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- History of exposure to risk factors (tobacco smoke, industrial pollutants…)